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SUBJECTS › HEALTH › HEALTHY COMMUNITIES › Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Updated 01/08

Healthy People in Healthy Communities

Contents

Healthy People 2010 Strategic Plan

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service set health objectives for the nation in Healthy People 2010. The program presents a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. It is designed as a road map for improving the health of all people in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century. The plan contains 467 objectives arranged in 28 focus areas. These objectives have been incorporated in most state health planning goals. The underlying premise of Healthy People 2010 is that the health of the individual is almost inseparable from the health of the larger community and that the health of every community in every state and territory determines the overall health status of the nation.

Ten major health concerns (Leading Health Indicators) are identified in Healthy People 2010.  They highlight individual behaviors, physical and social environmental factors, and important health system issues that greatly affect the health of individuals and communities. The indicators are: physical activity, overweight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization, and access to health care. These can become the basic building blocks for community health initiatives and provide guidance and focus for the public media and elected officials (Summary from Community Planning Guide)

Healthy Washington

  • Healthy Washington Initiative - Governor's Office
  • Priorities for a Healthy Washington -  "Priorities for a Healthy Washington" is a coalition of over 20 statewide environmental groups working together to build bipartisan support for a set of four Washington state legislative proposals that protect our air, land, water, and quality of life.

Approaches to Achieving Healthy Communities

The current approach to creating healthy communities, as defined in Healthy People 2010, is a collaborative one involving community groups, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion planning guide, Healthy People in Healthy Communities: A Community Planning Guide Using Healthy People 2010 addresses ways in which individuals working together can create a strategy to achieve a healthy community.

Of the various health initiatives, obesity, physical activity and tobacco prevention are the most visible in among Washington's Healthy Community Programs. Washington program descriptions include Steps to a Healthier WA and the Washington State Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan: Policy and Environmental Approaches ( 4.7 MB), and the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

The state notes that achievement of the Washington objectives regarding the Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan requires policy makers in state and local government and private industry to create physical, social, economic, and political environments that reduce barriers to being physically active and eating healthy. Among the objectives of the plan are

  • Increase access to health promoting foods
  • Reduct hunger and food insecurity in Washington State
  • Increase the number of physical activity opportunities available to children
  • Increase the number of people who have access to free or low-cost recreational opportunities for physical activity
    • Provide adequate funding for state and local recreation sites and facilities
    • Develop model policies to increase access to public facilities for physical activity
    • Increase the number of worksites that have policies that enhance activity opportunities
  • Increase the number of active community environments
  • Utilize urban planning approaches zoning and land use that promote physical activity
    • Incorporate transportation policy and infrastructure changes to promote non-motorized transit
    • Enhance safety and perceived safety to improve community walkability and bikeability

Community Resources and Examples

Publications for Healthy People in Healthy Communities